CMP’s Habit of Incomplete Filings Raise Serious Questions Statement of Sue Ely, Clean Energy Attorney, Natural Resources Council of Maine “Today, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), notified CMP that its application to build a massive 145-mile-long transmission line through Maine is still incomplete. The DEP said it cannot move forward with evaluating its Read More
CMP Transmission Line Proposal: A Bad Deal for Maine
Central Maine Power (CMP) is proposing to build a 145-mile, high-voltage, direct current transmission line from the Quebec-Maine border to an interconnection with the existing New England grid in Lewiston. About 53 miles of the CMP transmission line route would create a brand new transmission corridor; requiring clearing of a large, currently undisturbed, swath of Maine’s North Woods.
The Natural Resources Council of Maine opposes the CMP corridor because it would harm Maine forests and wildlife, suppress Maine's renewable energy industry, and could actually increase climate change emissions, all without any clear benefit to Maine or Massachusetts.
Under its proposal, CMP would expand the other 92 miles of transmission line, requiring clearing more vegetation and undertaking additional development within existing corridors. The proposed CMP transmission line includes above-ground transmission lines across the Kennebec River Gorge, the Appalachian Trail, 263 wetlands, 115 streams, 12 inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat areas, and near Beattie Pond, a Class 6 remote pond.
PUC Won’t Decide CMP’s $950M Transmission Line Project until March
by Staff Mainebiz news story The three-member Maine Public Utilities Commission issued an order on Friday that extends its review of Central Maine Power’s $950 million New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line project into next year. In their procedural order — which follows an Oct. 26 order suspending three hearings originally scheduled to be Read More
PUC Delays CMP Power Line Hearings, Per Request by NRCM, Others
CMP’s 11th Hour Filings Raise Serious Questions Statement of Sue Ely, Clean Energy Attorney, Natural Resources Council of Maine “The PUC’s decision to delay hearings on CMP’s proposed transmission line is a welcome acknowledgement that this process has been moving too fast for a thorough analysis of this massive, incredibly complex and flawed project. After months of Read More
Some Maine Outdoorsmen are Worried about the Potential Impact of the CMP Transmission Line
By Fred Bever Maine Public news story Listen to full news story. Some snowmobilers and hunters in Maine are raising their voices against the high-voltage transmission line that Central Maine Power wants to string through western Maine in order to bring electricity to Massachusetts. The Maine Snowmobilers Association (MSA) is contending with dissent in its Read More
New England Power Line Opposition Brings Together Unusual Alliance
Environmental groups and gas generators both oppose the power line project, which would carry Canadian hydropower to Massachusetts. by Bill Opalka Energy News Network news story The proposed New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line is creating an unusual alliance of opponents in Maine that range from environmental groups to fossil fuel power generators. Groups Read More
CMP Plans to Bury Proposed Transmission Line Under Kennebec Gorge
In a concession to opponents, the power company says it would drill under the scenic canyon instead of stringing power lines overhead if it wins approval for the 145-mile transmission line project. by Peter McGuire, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Central Maine Power wants to bury the portion of its planned electrical transmission Read More
Mainers Overwhelmingly Oppose CMP Transmission Line
CMP’s desperate gambit doesn’t change that Statement of Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine “In a desperate gambit to try to salvage its controversial power line proposal, Central Maine Power (CMP) today acknowledged that its proposed 145-mile transmission line across Maine would cause significant harm to the Kennebec Gorge. But this small Read More
Scores Speak Out to Regulators about Impact of CMP’s Transmission Line Proposal
More than 70 signed up to speak at the hearing and most who testified in in the first three hours voiced concerns about the impact the project would have on the environment and tourism. by Rachel Ohm, Morning Sentinel Portland Press Herald news story HALLOWELL — The Maine Public Utilities Commission heard hours of testimony Read More
New Study Shows CMP Transmission Project Would Not Reduce Climate-changing Carbon Pollution
Reveals Hydro-Quebec’s financial incentive to “green-wash” power News Release Natural Resources Council of Maine, Sierra Club, and Maine Renewable Energy Association (Augusta, ME) A new analysis released today by environmental and renewable energy organizations concludes that the transmission line through western Maine (NECEC) proposed by Central Maine Power (CMP) and Hydro-Quebec would not reduce carbon Read More
